Section 7205 - Restrictions relating to premium ratesPremium rates for health benefit plans subject to this chapter shall be subject to the following provisions:
(1) The index rate for any class of business shall not exceed the index rate for similar coverage for any other class of business by more than 20 percent in any rating period.(2) The premium rates for similar health benefit plans within a class of business shall not vary from the index rate by more than 35 percent, with:a. An additional combined variation of no more than 10 percent for gender and geography; andb. The actuarially justified adjustment for age and family composition, provided, that the small employer carrier shall file a document as prescribed by the Commissioner setting out the age classes and family composition classes used pursuant to this paragraph, including actuarial certification of these classes.
(3) The percentage increase in the premium rate charged to a small employer for a new rating period may not exceed the sum of the following: a. The percentage change in the new business premium rate calculated using premium rates on the first day of the prior rating period and the first day of the new rating period. In the case of a health benefit plan into which the small employer carrier is no longer enrolling new small employers, the small employer carrier shall use the percentage change in the new business premium rate for the most similar health benefit plan into which the small employer carrier is actively enrolling new small employers;b. Any adjustment, not to exceed 15 percent annually and adjusted pro rata for rating periods of less than 1 year, due to the claim experience, health status or duration of coverage of the employees or dependents of the small employer as determined from the small employer carrier's rate manual for the class of business; andc. Any adjustment due to change in coverage or change in the case characteristics of the small employer as determined from the small employer carrier's rate manual for the class of business.(4) Adjustments in rates for claim experience, health status and duration of coverage shall not be charged to individual employees or dependents. Any such adjustment shall be applied uniformly to the rates charged for all employees and dependents of the small employer. This prohibition shall not be construed to prevent a carrier from establishing premium discounts or rebates or modifying otherwise applicable co-payments or deductibles in return for adherence to programs of health promotion and disease prevention, if otherwise allowed by law.(5) Premium rates for health benefit plans shall comply with the requirements of this section notwithstanding any assessments paid or payable by small employer carriers pursuant to § 7210 of this title [repealed].(6) A small employer carrier may utilize industry as a case characteristic in establishing premium rates, provided that the highest rate factor associated with any industry classification shall not exceed the lowest rate factor associated with any industry classification by more than 15 percent.(7) In the case of health benefit plans delivered or issued for delivery prior to January 4, 1993, a premium rate for a rating period may exceed the ranges set forth in paragraphs (1) and (2) of this section for a period of 1 year following January 4, 1993. In such case, the percentage increase in the premium rate charged to a small employer for a new rating period shall not exceed the sum of the following: a. The percentage change in the new business premium rate calculated using premium rates on the first day of the prior rating period and the first day of the new rating period. In the case of a health benefit plan into which the small employer carrier is no longer enrolling new small employers, the small employer carrier shall use the percentage change in the new business premium rate for the most similar health benefit plan into which the small employer carrier is actively enrolling new small employers.b. Any adjustment due to change in coverage or change in the case characteristics of the small employer as determined from the carrier's rate manual for the class of business.(8)a. Small employer carriers shall apply rating factors, including case characteristics, consistently with respect to all small employers in a class of business. Rating factors shall produce premiums for identical groups which differ only by the amounts attributable to plan design and do not reflect differences due to the nature of the groups assumed to select particular health benefit plans.b. A small employer carrier shall treat all health benefit plans issued or renewed in the same calendar month as having the same rating period.(9) For purposes of this subsection, a health benefit plan that utilizes a restricted provider network shall not be considered similar coverage to a health benefit plan that does not utilize such a network, provided that utilization of the restricted provider network results in substantial differences in claims costs.68 Del. Laws, c. 175, §1; 68 Del. Laws, c. 340, §1; 71 Del. Laws, c. 143, § 6.;